Is Your Wellness Program Due for a Checkup?

A provocative new study that questions the value of common workplace wellness initiatives was released in the Industrial Relations Journal in January of 2024. After the study analyzed survey data from over 46,000 employees across 233 British organizations, the research found that outside of employee volunteer offerings, common well-being interventions like apps, resilience training, and meditation programs proved to have little to no clear benefits for workers. Before we ring the death knell fo

When the Wall Street Journal reported on the harmful effects of toxic workplaces on employee mental and physical health in October, they turned to NFP for survey data published in the 2022 US Benefit Trend Report. Centered around the Surgeon General Vivek Murthy's unexpected finding that toxic workplaces are harmful to workers, the article referenced organizations' well-being spend as collected by our annual employer benefits survey. Consistent with NFP's expertise, the article highlighted the

Q&A session with Deb Smolensky, Senior Vice-President of Well-Being and Engagement at NFP.

The pandemic disrupted the status quo of how healthcare was delivered. It became more challenging to access quality healthcare where face-to-face treatment was limited. Virtual care allowed high-quality providers to use technology to power the delivery of a broader level of primary care services, including clinical care navigation, mental and behavioral health, musculoskeletal and chronic disease management, and other well-being services. On-site and near-site primary care clinics were some of

You're intentional about why you offer your unique mental health benefits and how access to those benefits can improve your people's day-to-day. You're hoping to see your engagement increase, your retention rates rise, and your morale improve '” all signs that your people know you are contributing to mental health support in more than just financial ways. Here are three recent stats with practical actions that will demonstrate to your people that you care. Stat 1: 60% of employees expect employ

Ninety-two percent of CEOs say their companies are more focused on mental health because of COVID-19. The myopic view that well-being is just a way to reduce healthcare costs has evolved. Investing in well-being is no longer a nice to have but a business imperative that enhances recruiting and retention, elevates productivity and demonstrates your organization's commitment to caring for its people. According to Glassdoor, 87% of employees expect their employer to support them in balancing their

Rethinking Inclusive Wellness Programs With Pride Month and Juneteenth this month, take a moment to consider how you can create a more inclusive wellness program for your friends in the Black and LGBTQ+ communities. While you set out with the best intentions, your strategy may not be as inclusive as you think. I recently took a multicultural competency course with the National Wellness Institute that opened my eyes to this. My instructor started the first class asking, 'Is wellness inclusive?'

Just last week, we experienced a tragedy in my hometown of Indianapolis when a FedEx employee entered a warehouse with a gun and opened fire, killing 8 employees and then himself. On the day prior to this terrible event, we had a wonderful discussion with HR professionals about mental health and well-being. It was infused with positivity and the hopeful, visionary talent of Scott Shute, LinkedIn's Head of Mindfulness and Compassion. The violence of that night disrupted that good feeling. P

The world lost 11 souls this week, and I, like many across the country, am deeply saddened and worried. Three separate shootings ended the lives of Daunte Wright and Adam Toledo and nine others at the FedEx facility in Indianapolis - close to home for me. Since the pandemic started, we've seen a 45% increase in anxiety, 48% increase in depression and 22% increase in stress. Mental health has only been exacerbated, and events like these should be a wakeup call to employers. Plain and simple: The

Rising healthcare costs in the U.S. due to government policy, chronic illnesses, and inefficiencies make medical care increasingly unaffordable.